Ariana Grande Absolutely Slays Her Musical Impressions on SNL

The day after releasing a single off of her new album, Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande hosted her first Saturday Night Live show. We got a brief glimpse of the 22-year-old singer’s impersonation skills on the TheTonight Show With Jimmy Fallon last year, and on Saturday, Grande blew us all away by showing off her vocal and comedic range. And after delivering some instantly viral bits, like her flawless impression of Jennifer Lawrence, we’re sure Grande is well on her way to becoming a part of SNL’s five-timer club. (Watch out, Justin Timberlake!) Below, we revisit some of her best sketches of the evening.

Grande started off strong by performing a sultry cabaret number for her opening monologue. She was playfully singing about wanting a grown-up scandal, and then, in a truly meta moment, Grande accidentally cursed on live television. It may be less flashy than doughnut-gate or a Super Bowl nip-slip, but it still got people talking.

In a bit aimed at the troubled streaming service Tidal, SNL basically provided a platform for Grande to relive her visit to The Tonight Show. Not that we’re complaining. Grande performed spot-on impressions of Britney Spears, Shakira, Celine Dion, Rihanna, and Whitney Houston. When she was prompted to perform an Ariana Grande track, the singer declines and cheekily replies: “I’ve never really been a big fan.”

In the Celebrity Family Feud skit, Kate McKinnon traded in her hooded Justin Bieber impersonation for an eccentric take on Tilda Swinton, Taran Killam does a hyped-up Quentin Tarantino, and Jay Pharoah did his best Idris Elba, but again, it was Grande who ultimately stole the show with her pitch-perfect “annoyingly relatable” take on Jennifer Lawrence.

In the era of Beyoncé, a song can no longer just be a song; it must be an anthem. SNL writers poked fun at our thirst for empowering tunes and also our quick-to-criticize culture with a music video titled “This Is Not a Feminist Song.” Grande performed alongside other female cast members, and even though she had to share the spotlight, she really nailed her solos.